Wisconsin counselor tour visits Saint Mary’s University

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University was one of 13 public and private colleges and universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin chosen by the Wisconsin Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) for their 2009 College Seminar Tour. Forty Wisconsin high school guidance counselors and teachers arrived at Saint Mary’s on Thursday, June 25, for a full day of activities. They received a tour of campus, played games, had dinner, and listened to presentations, before receiving a tour of Winona. On Friday, June 26, they also toured Winona State University before concluding their trip. The WACAC College Seminar Tour gives secondary school counselors the opportunity to learn more about colleges and universities around Minnesota and Wisconsin, while offering three graduate credits toward the renewal of their state license.

Six alumni to be honored at SMU’s Homecoming June 19-21

WINONA, Minn. — Each year during summer Homecoming festivities, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota honors outstanding alumni. This year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient is Thomas Kilbride of Rock Island, Ill. The Religious Service Award will go to Msgr. Roy Literski of Winona, and Matt Bubala of West Dundee, Ill., will receive the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Sharing the Alumni Appreciation Award are Ken Ortman of Inverness, Ill., Harry Plotke of Castle Rock, Colo., and James Hoey of Eagan, Minn. All six will be honored during a reception Saturday, June 20, on the Winona campus. Approximately 300 alumni, family and friends will return to their alma mater for Saint Mary’s Homecoming festivities, which begin Friday, June 19, and run throughout the weekend. In addition to the alumni awards ceremony, highlights include a golf outing, the Gilmore Gallop 5K, a 50+ anniversary social, and the alumni picnic. Alumni can go to www.smumn.edu/homecoming for more information.

2009 Saint Mary’s Homecoming Honorees:

Distinguished Alumnus Thomas L. Kilbride ’78 Rock Island, Ill. Tom Kilbride is a Supreme Court Justice for the state of Illinois. He practiced law for 20 years in Rock Island before being admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court of Central Illinois and the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Justice Kilbride is also an active volunteer in legal communities.

Religious Service Msgr. Roy E. Literski ’49 Winona Father Roy Literski retired in 1996 after 42 years as a Catholic priest. Locally, he has served St. Stanislaus and Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, as the rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, as a philosophy teacher and the student chaplain of Saint Mary’s University, and as Vicar General of the Diocese of Winona.

Alumni Appreciation Ken Ortman ’59 and Harry Plotke ’59 Inverness, Ill., and Castle Rock, Colo.

Ken Ortman and Harry Plotke are lifelong supporters of Saint Mary’s. Both have served as alumni phone volunteers, class reps and parents of alumni. With their guidance, the class of 1959 will have nearly 50 percent in attendance at their 50th anniversary reunion and over 70 percent class participation, raising an unprecedented $1.6 million for Saint Mary’s.

Alumni Appreciation James Hoey ’74 Eagan, Minn. Jim Hoey is a tireless promoter of the university. While serving on the Alumni Board for seven years, he also served as chairman of the Awards Committee, as the alumni representative to the Sports Hall of Fame, and on the Football Task Force Committee.

Outstanding Young Alumnus Matt Bubala ’94 West Dundee, Ill. Matt Bubala, founder of Black Dog Radio Productions, Inc., has worked at stations in Los Angeles, Detroit and most recently Chicago, where he produced the “John Williams Show.” He currently hosts the nationally syndicated radio show “Good Parenting with Matt Bubala.”

SMU celebrates Minnesota Private College Week June 22-26

WINONA, Minn. — Saint Mary’s University is one of 17 institutions that will be hosting high school students and their parents, giving them the opportunity to jumpstart their college search process by visiting campuses during Minnesota Private College Week, June 22- 26.The event is designed to make it easy to get a feel for several colleges in a short amount of
time.

Students and parents choose which colleges they want to visit and register online for free. Sessions take place twice daily from 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. and 2 to 4:15 p.m. For convenience, Saint Mary’s will accommodate visitors who arrive anytime before 3:30 p.m.

Participating institutions also include Augsburg College, Bethany Lutheran College, Bethel University, Carleton College, College of Saint Benedict, College of St. Catherine, College of St. Scholastica, Concordia College in Moorhead, Concordia University in St. Paul, Gustavus Adolphus College, Hamline University, Macalester College, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Saint John's University, St. Olaf College and University of St. Thomas.

These 17 member institutions are in Arden Hills, Collegeville, Duluth, Mankato, Minneapolis, Moorhead, Northfield, St. Joseph, St. Paul, St. Peter and Winona.

You may register online at www.mnprivatecolleges.org/events/mpcw/index.php or e-mail colleges@mnprivatecolleges.org. To find out more about Saint Mary’s, contact the Office of Admission at (507) 457-1700 or admission@smumn.edu.

MCA announces summer dance, theatre and music programming

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will offer summer programming June 8 – August 28. Community classes, lessons, workshops and camps are offered for ages 3 to adult. The MCA summer offerings include:

Private Voice Lessons
• Arranged, for students entering grades 5 to 12
• Tuition: $75 for 5 lessons, $140.00 for 10 lessons

Teen/Adult Dance and Fitness Workshops
• Class offerings include: Dance Fitness, Power Piyo, Clogging I & II, Musical Theatre Dance, Teen and Adult Tap.
• June 8 – July 20. Tuition: varies

Clogging For Kids
• June 8, 15, 22; July 6, 13, 20; 4:15 – 5 p.m., for ages 8 – 12. Tuition: $40.00

Pre-Intensive Dance Workshops
• Ballet/pointe, classical variation, modern, jazz and repertory for intermediate and advanced dancers
• June 15 – 19, 10 am – 2:30 p.m. Tuition: $180.00

Dance Day Camp I - Dance Me a Story
Ballet, creative movement, performance in a final showcase
June 22 - 26, 9 – 11:30 a.m., for ages 5 – 8. Tuition: $100

Dance Day Camp II - Dance the Day Away
• Ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, theory courses, performance in a final showcase
• June 22 - 26, 1 – 4:30 p.m., for ages 8 – 12. Tuition: $150

Creative Movement
• Introduction to the dance class setting using creative movement techniques
• July 13 – 16, 4:30 - 5 p.m., for children ages 3 – 4. Tuition: $30.00

Boys Dance Workshops
• Study with visiting Guest Artist Allen Fields!
• July 20 – 23, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., ages 8 – 16. Tuition: $50.00

Theatre Day Camp I – Welcome to Theatre
• Theatre games, acting, movement, performance in a final showcase
• July 27 – 31, 9 – 11:30 a.m. for children ages 7 – 10. Tuition: $100

Theatre Day Camp II – Explore Theatre
• Theatre games, acting, musical theatre, behind-the-scenes, performance in a final showcase
• July 27 – 30, 1 – 4:30 p.m. and July 31, 9 – 11:30 a.m. for youth ages 10 – 13. Tuition: $150

Intermediate/Advanced Dance Workshops
• Class offerings include: ballet/pointe, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop
• August 17 – 28. Tuition: varies

"The MCA summer dance, theatre and music offerings are a great extracurricular activity for youth, helping them build self-esteem, creating a daily venue for movement and exercise, and offering a great place to meet new friends," said Christine Martin, managing director of MCA.

MCA summer dance and fitness classes also offer excellent opportunities for adults. All adult classes are held during the evenings. Additionally, workshops for intermediate and advanced teens and college-aged students are available.

All MCA classes, workshops, lessons and camps are held at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th Street, Winona. Tuition for summer classes varies depending on class length and level. Dance Technique for Boys can be registered for at no charge through MCA’s tuition-free boys programs.

Register now for summer programming at the Valéncia Arts Center or by mail to: 1164 West 10th Street, Winona, MN 55987.

For more information and registration materials, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500.

MCA receives grant to fund Summer Dance and Theatre Camp Scholarships for Youth

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts announces available youth scholarships for summer 2009 dance and theatre day camps, made possible through a grant from the Winona Fine Arts Commission.

Scholarships are available for the following day camps:

Dance Day Camp I - Dance Me a Story
Ballet, creative movement, performance in a final showcase
June 22 - 26, 9 – 11:30 a.m., for ages 5 – 8. Tuition: $100

Dance Day Camp II - Dance the Day Away
• Ballet, jazz, modern, choreography, theory courses, performance in a final showcase
• June 22 - 26, 1 – 4:30 p.m., for ages 8 – 12. Tuition: $150

Theatre Day Camp I – Welcome to Theatre
• Theatre games, acting, movement, performance in a final showcase
• July 27 – 31, 9 – 11:30 a.m. for children ages 7 – 10. Tuition: $100

Theatre Day Camp II – Explore Theatre
• Theatre games, acting, musical theatre, behind-the-scenes, performance in a final showcase
• July 27 – 30, 1 – 4:30 p.m. and July 31, 9 – 11:30 a.m. for youth ages 10 – 13. Tuition: $150

"MCA is grateful to the Winona Fine Arts Commission and the City of Winona for helping us carry out our mission of offering the performing arts to area youth, regardless of their economic circumstances," said Christine Martin, managing director of MCA.

Parents or legal guardians of students wishing to apply for the scholarships should complete a scholarship form in addition to the camp registration form. Scholarship application deadlines are June 15 for the dance day camps and July 20 for the theatre day camps. Scholarship forms can be obtained from the MCA office in the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th Street, Winona, or by calling (507) 453-5500.

MCA dance and theatre day camps are held at the Valéncia Arts Center. Registration for summer programming is currently being accepted at the Valéncia Arts Center or by mail to: 1164 West 10th Street, Winona, MN 55987.

For more information and registration materials, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu, or call (507) 453-5500.